Hooded person tampers with bear trap

Suspect caught on camera

A hooded figure was caught on camera tampering with a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish bear trap.

Officials said the person spread some kind of liquid around the cage in an attempt to keep the animal away.

"If something doesn't smell right to the bear, it could encourage it to not go into the trap or to avoid the area," said Rachel Shockley, a spokeswoman for Game and Fish.

Officials set the trap after a bear broke into a home in the Sandia Heights neighborhood last week. The bear bit one of the homeowners and now Game and Fish said it could hurt someone else.

"Maybe they think they're doing the bear a favor, but in reality, they're really endangering themselves and their neighbors," Shockley said.

If caught, the person could face criminal charges for tampering with the trap. But, what's more concerning for Game and Fish is this bear is still on the loose and has already shown it's willing to hurt people.

"It's important that we test it for diseases, and it's important that we remove it from the environment where it could possibly break into another house or attack another human," Shockley said.

If the bear is caught, state law requires it to be killed.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Game and Fish at 505-222-4700.

NEW DETAILS ON A STORY YOU SAW FIRST ON SEVEN--- A BEAR CLIMBS INTO AN ALBUQUERQUE HOME AND BITES THE HOMEOWNER. GAME AND FISH CREWS ARE NOW TRYING TO CATCH THE ANIMAL... BUT AS ACTION SEVEN NEWS REPORTER AARON HILF FOUND OUT -- SOMEONE IS SABOTAGING THEIR EFFORTS. UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS -- A HOODED FIGURE IS CAUGHT ON CAMERA TAMPERING WITH A NEW MEXICO GAME AND FISH BEAR TRAP. OFFICIALS SAY THIS PERSON SPREAD SOME KIND OF LIQUID AROUND THE CAGE -- IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE ANIMAL AWAY. "If something doesn't smell right to the bear, it could encourage it to not go into the trap or to avoid the area." BUT OFFICIALS SAY IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT TRAP WAS MESSED WITH. THEY SET A CAMERA OUT AFTER DISCOVERING SOMEONE CLOSED THE DOOR TO THE CAGE. A BIG PROBLEM SINCE THEY SAY THE BEAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AFTER IT BIT A PERSON IN THEIR HOME LAST WEEK. "Maybe they think they're doing the bear a favor, but in reality, they're really endangering themselves and their neighbors." "The Department of Game and Fish says tampering with the trap not only hinders their officers, but it's also against the law." "They are committing a crime. They're obstructing an officer. We are doing an ongoing investigation." IF CAUGHT -- THE PERSON COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. BUT WHAT'S MORE CONCERNING FOR GAME AND FISH -- IS THIS BEAR IS STILL ON THE LOOSE AND HAS ALREADY SHOWN IT'S WILLING TO HURT PEOPLE. "It's important that we test it for diseases and it's important that we remove it from the environment where it could possibly break into another house or attack another human." IF THE BEAR IS CAUGHT -- STATE LAW REQUIRES IT TO BE KILLED. IN ALBUQUERQUE AARON HILF KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE PERSON TAMPERING WITH THE TRAP IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH.

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